“Madear” Bates Calhoun

Published 11:10 am Friday, May 23, 2014

Funeral services for Gladys “Madear” Bates Calhoun of Bogue Chitto are 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Norfield Bethel M.B. Church with burial in New Zion-Norfield Cemetery. Williams Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Friday, May 23, 2014, from 1 until 8 p.m. at Williams Mortuary. The family hour is Friday, May 23, 2014, from 7 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Calhoun, 84, died May 18, 2014, at her residence. She was born on Sept. 11, 1929, in Lincoln County to the Rev. Charlie Bates and Golder Brown Bates.

She was a graduate of Lincoln County Training School and retired from New Zion Headstart Center. She was a member of Focus Community Word Church.

Gladys “Madear” Bates Calhoun was not only the mother of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren, she was the mother of her community. Madear was the matriarch of Bogue Chitto.

She loved, fed and clothed anyone who needed it. Madear was always full of love and advice, and she shared it whether you wanted to hear it or not. Gladys Calhoun will be dearly missed by all.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and four brothers, C.B. Bates, Leroy Bates, J.C. Bates and James Bates.

Survivors are her sons, Melton McMorris Jr. of Huntsville, Texas, Charles McMorris and wife, Anita, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Larry McMorris of Santa Maria, California, Jessie McMorris and wife, Sandra, of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Quitman McMorris of Port Orchard, Washington; daughters, Myrtis May of Bogue Chitto and Golda Kraus and husband, Jeffery, of Columbia, South Carolina; brothers, Charlie Eugene Bates and wife, Dianne, of Jackson; sisters, Daisy Fairman and Grace Blackwell, both of Bogue Chitto, Joan Robinson and husband, Alex and Dianne Buie and husband, John of Byram; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; four great great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.